Sunderland average 46,236 as crowds rank among Europe’s biggest | OneFootball

Sunderland’s return to the Premier League has driven crowds at the Stadium of Light to an average of 46,236, a rise of just over 5,000 in recent months. It is the club’s fourth-highest average on record and their first season above 40,000 since 2016/17.

Home supporters have seen the Premier League’s last remaining unbeaten home record, with six wins and five draws from 11 matches. According to FBref, Sunderland rank 30th across Europe’s top five leagues, just behind Napoli on 47,001 and ahead of RB Leipzig on 45,087 and Valencia on 44,499.

In Premier League terms, their average is ninth-highest, sitting between Newcastle United on 52,055 and Aston Villa on 41,935, the latter just outside Europe’s top 30. The figures reflect a large fanbase and a stadium capacity bigger than several leading clubs.

Europe’s biggest regular gates are led by Borussia Dortmund on 81,365, Bayern Munich on 75,000 and Manchester United on 73,965. Paris Saint-Germain draw 47,516, while Sunderland sit above several giants including Juventus on 40,845, Chelsea on 39,647 and Lazio on 37,944.

Sunderland will feel confident of extending that home sequence when Burnley visit on Monday night. The Clarets are 19th, 10 points from safety after a 14-match winless league run, though they have drawn with Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in their last three league games and beat Millwall 5-1 in the FA Cup.

Source: Sunderland Echo